The chief of South Korea's Armed Forces Nursing Academy has been awarded an order of merit from the U.S. for her contributions to expanded bilateral relations in the military medical sector, the academy said Tuesday.

The U.S. Army Medical Command conferred the Order of Military Medical Merit also known as O2M3, to Brig. Gen. Choi Kyung-hye, the superintendent of the local nursing academy, during her visit to the U.S. in July.

The award was in recognition of Choi's contributions to the development of military medical services as well as active South Korea-U.S. exchanges in the military nursing segment which significantly helped expand cooperation, according to the academy.

The Order of Military Medical Merit is awarded by a private organization of the same name founded by the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Health Services Command in 1982 to encourage the spirit of unity.

"I am very honored to have received the award," Choi said, vowing continued efforts in the military medical services field. (Yonhap)